The Homeseeker: Elemental Adventurer LitRPG [Isekai] (Series Complete!)

Rep and Zalan strode back to the Journey House guild, carrying two small books between them. Zalan looked around Oriton with completely new eyes. The wooden buildings looked more vibrant, and the smell of the sea was a fragrant aroma, like constant perfume. The sun shined brightly down on him and he couldn't help but look up with glee. He didn't think he would ever feel happy just to simply be alive. Opening his arms, he basked in the warmth of the sun's glow.

"Do you have a sun in your world?" Rep asked, pleased by Zalan's expression.

"Yeah, it's pretty much the same as this one. It's warm. Rises and sets and stuff. Why?" Zalan said.

"I am trying to think of what you will do once you are back home," Rep admitted.

"Get out of the house, for sure. Been a while since I did that. I'll talk with my family again. I'd been ignoring my aunts, uncles and cousins for a while before I showed up here. What about you? What are you gonna do once I'm back home? I mean, assuming I can still go home after 'losing everything' like Madam Hikma said."

Rep's face went deep in consternation. Madam Hikma had told Zalan that to face Morloch in battle would mean to "lose everything." Earlier, Rep and Zalan treated it like it wasn't such a big deal.

Now Zalan sensed more hesitation from his friend. He didn't think it was that difficult of a question before the worry lines appeared on Rep's face.

"Rep?" Zalan nudged him.

"I apologize. I heard your question, but I do not know what I will do when some matters have yet to be determined."

"Okay. A little vague. You wanna elaborate a little for me?"

"Junill did not send any news to me at the guild. I do not know what her response has been to my proposal," Rep mumbled.

"Oh! Right. I'm sorry man, I totally forgot about that. You wanna… Go talk to her before we get into the books?" Zalan asked, holding up one of the thin books containing information about Aetheria.

"I do not know."

"Because you're afraid of what her answer will be?"

"Indeed."

Zalan went silent in thought. He had never had his heart broken, but could already see the toil the question alone had on Rep. He wished there was some easy way to help him. Tapping his fingers on the book, he juggled ideas in his head.

"What if I go talk to her on my own? Make it out to be that I'm going to get you a replacement sword since yours got lost in the Depths of Despair," Zalan suggested.

"That is it! I can go ask her about getting a new sword!" Rep said, delight on his face.

"Umm, sure," Zalan agreed, slightly confused.

It took him a few seconds to realize that Rep felt he needed an excuse to speak to her. The memory of needing another sword was buried under his fears about her response. Rep picked up the pace, rushing toward Junill's forge, then stopping himself so abruptly that Zalan ran into him.

"What, did you get nervous?" Zalan asked.

"I have no money for a sword. I spent most of it on my initial proposal and the rest was used for payment in Nightfall," Rep said nervously.

"No problem, you can borrow some of my…" Zalan felt at his pocket and realized it was empty of funds. All he carried was two Artifacts, the Homeseeker and the Oculus of Annihilation. "Oh, right, I gave all my money to Finnegan."

"We are doomed," Rep gasped.

"Calm down. We have money back in the guild, remember? We can go talk to her, order a sword, then get the money and come back to pay for it," Zalan said.

"Why would we not go to get the money first?"

"Because I'm afraid you'll lose your nerve."

Rep stared at Zalan, a slight narrowing in his eyes. Sighing, he nodded in agreement. Briskly moving forward, Rep continued his way to Junill's forge. Zalan watched Rep's hands fidget as they made it to the front of the door, the song of metal against metal playing from within.

"You wanna go alone like last time?" Zalan asked.

"No."

Zalan nodded and placed a hand on Rep's shoulder. Giving Zalan a queasy smile, Rep showed what appreciation he could. He led the way in, pushing through the door and walking through the blast of heat contained within the forge.

Junill looked up from a sword she was working on, her eyes going wide and her lips parting slightly. Just behind her was a strong, older man with a scruffy, burned beard. Immediately, he twisted to Rep and Zalan as they entered, analyzing them with a piercing gaze. Rep went stiff, standing completely straight and his face going pale. Zalan looked between the three people, trying to piece together the puzzle.

"Valens?" Rep said, staring at the man.

"Rep?" Junill asked.

"That is him? I remember him," the tall man said, muscle-laden arms folding over his chest.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Yes, father," Junill said, her eyes downcast.

"Oh," Zalan said, puzzle pieces fitting together.

In three swift stomps, Junill's father closed the distance between the forge and the counter, looking down on Rep. Rummaging under the counter for a second, he dumped a small pile of gold on the wood, glaring all the while. Rep remained frozen, and Junill looked as though she wouldn't move either, her face a warm red.

"You there!" Valens pointed at Zalan. "How does a man ask for a woman's hand?"

Zalan's face leaned back an inch, attacked by the question. It took several seconds for him to come up with a reply.

"I uhhh… I don't know, I'm not really from around here," Zalan replied.

Valens grunted, his beard shifting into a frown.

"I suppose I should not expect more if you are a close friend of Rep."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zalan asked, offended.

"What is this?" Valens addressed Rep, pointing to the pile of gold coins in front of him.

"A dower," Rep answered, his voice shaky.

"A hefty one at that." Valens tapped it lightly. "One that would certainly be accepted by a more greed-fueled family. But you did everything wrong!"

"Father," Junill said, warning in her tone.

"I am being cordial!" Valens snapped back at her. "Just because I sound stern does not make me less genuine!"

Zalan could barely keep up, trying to figure out what Rep had done wrong. Valens turned back to Rep, exhaling through his nose and regaining his composure.

"Tell me, Rep. A marriage joins two things together. What are these things?" Valens asked sternly.

"Families," Rep answered confidently.

"Good," Valens's face softened a smidge, his frown decreasing. "You have some sense. But if a marriage is to merge families, why would you avoid her family when attempting to court her?"

Rep said nothing, his face beet red.

"I remember when we first met, you know," Valens mused. "You wanted your first sword. I sent you to my daughter, as she was just starting her work in the forge and needed good customers. I never suspected it would lead to this, but I can not say I am surprised. Junill is a good young woman, there is no shame in her having good men for suitors."

Rep raised his head slightly, a hint of hope glistening in his eyes.

"Valens. Sir. Would you give me the honor of wedding your daughter?" Rep asked.

Zalan glanced at Junill toward the back of the forge. Her face was pointed to the ground, her cheeks a cherry red. But she was clearly holding back a smile.

"Now you are asking the right questions," Valens said. "Junill, dear, come here."

Junill approached nervously. Neither Rep nor Junill looked at one another when she reached the counter.

"It is not fitting for me to contemplate if you have already made a decision against it. Are you at all interested?" Valens said.

"I am not opposed, Father. But I can not say I am entirely certain at this time," Junill mumbled.

Rep grew a long, stretched smile across his face. It was the most confirmation he had received and it imbued him with hope. Valens raised an eyebrow at him and Rep's face went taut, his expression escaping to return to embarrassment. Zalan didn't know what he was supposed to do and stood by, tapping his fingers lightly on the book he held.

"He has good money. That is good for a man to take care of you," Valens pointed out. "What kind of work do you do?"

Junill's face closed tightly.

"I am in Journey House," Rep responded.

"I know." Valens immediately looked disappointed. "But is there any other work? Would you be willing to leave the guild?"

Zalan blinked, surprised at the question.

"Why?" Rep asked, reflecting Zalan's surprise.

"I want a man that can take care of Junill. Those of Journey House are often gone. And you adventurer types often… To be frank, they die. You seem to enjoy battling all manner of monsters, getting lost on remote islands, or disappearing in hitherto unheard dungeons. One day you are the strongest man in town, the next you are lost, without notice to your family. If you join the walls as part of its guards, I could be amenable to the union," Valens expressed.

Rep's eyes went wide with shock. Zalan tried to read Junill's expression, and could see she nodded slightly. She seemed to agree with her father's assessment.

"Rep can take care of himself," Zalan inserted himself, then attempted to embellish his battle qualities. "He killed the Mind of Madness!"

"You did?" Junill asked, looking immensely impressed.

"I could not have done it without Zalan," Rep said.

"And I couldn't have done it without Rep, either!" Zalan added.

"But this is exactly my point!" Valens said. "You did battle with the Mind of Madness! What kind of madman would go out in search of such a monster? I question your sincerity to Junill when there are glorious battles that may be calling to you."

"I am sincere!" Rep said.

"Then you will leave the guild?"

Rep went silent, searching the ground for answers.

"I think we have our answer," Valens said, placing a comforting arm on Junill's shoulder.

Junill looked to the floor, clearly disappointed.

"Can I at least have time to think about it?" Rep asked.

"Indeed, but take this in the meantime," Valens gathered the fortune of gold coins into a bag. "It is not befitting for me to take your money. Another, more eligible suitor may ask for her hand."

Rep bit his lip. Looking humiliated, he bowed his head in thanks, snatched the gold in such haste that a dozen pieces remained behind and bolted out. Zalan looked at the door as it closed, then back at the remaining money.

"Uhhh, he needs a sword too," Zalan said awkwardly.

"He lost another of my weapons?" Junill asked, interested.

"Yeah, to the Depths of Despair," Zalan nodded.

"At least he never gives them away to monsters," Junill said, turning to search for a new weapon.

"What an absurd thing to say," Valens said. "What kind of maniac would give a weapon to a monster?"

Zalan scratched his head uncomfortably as Junill turned around, a knowing smile on her face. Junill presented him with a sword, which Zalan paid for with one of Rep's gold coins before pocketing the remaining of money. Zalan took a step to the door, then turned back to Valens and Junill.

"I hope you change your mind about Rep. He's a really good guy. Probably the only reason I'm alive today is thanks to him. And I know he loves adventuring beyond Oriton. There's probably a compromise you could work out instead of making him leave the guild," Zalan expressed.

"I just do not know him well enough to be certain," Junill said, frowning. "I only know his character through his interactions in this forge. Nowhere near the full picture of a man he may be. And he often goes out to the most dangerous places in the world. I do not know how reckless he is."

"He's anything but reckless," Zalan assured them.

"It is good to know he has loyal friends who speak kindly behind his back." Valens granted Zalan a smile. "Perhaps we can be convinced by the right person. But right now, I will stick to the requirements I have laid out."

Zalan tried to think of something more, but ended up thinking that he didn't want to make things any worse somehow. He waved his thanks and left the building.